Due to the implementation of the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) scheme, the verification of the microbiological safety of imported agricultural by-products used as mushroom substrates is now concerning. However, basic data on pathogenic fungi remain scarce. In this study, we examined fungal contamination levels (CFU/g) in the agricultural by-products imported in 2017 from Egypt, Germany, India, and Ukraine. Fungal loads ranged from 1.0 × 102 - 6.6 × 104 CFU/g. A total of 25 species across 10 genera were identified, including 21 species from Ascomycota, 3 species from Basidiomycota, and 1 species from Mucoromycota. Some of these species have been known to produce mycotoxins and exhibit pathogenicity toward humans or animals. The results of this study suggest that the fungal contamination in imported agricultural by-products is a critical factor to be considered in mushroom cultivation.

• 신도훈(단국대학교 의생명과학부) | Dohhoon Shin (Department of Microbiology, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Republic of Korea)
• 안홍석(단국대학교 의생명과학부) | Hong Seok Ahn (Department of Microbiology, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Republic of Korea)
• 김성환(단국대학교 의생명과학부) | Seong Hwan Kim (Department of Microbiology, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Republic of Korea) Corresponding author
• 이찬중(농촌진흥청 국립원예특작과학원 인삼특작부 버섯과) | Chan Jung Lee (Mushroom Research Division, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration, Eumseong 27709, Republic of Korea)